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Otter-Pop the dog really enjoys the flowers of springtime, particularly the Daffodils and Narcissus. With the lack of winter temperatures or rain due to California’s forth year of severe drought, planting season came earlier than usual this year. So, I picked up a bag of 50-bulbs for Otter-Pop to decorate throughout the garden.

Throughout the holiday season, we find ourselves entertaining and celebrating with friends and family. Inevitably after a grand feast, I end up with leftover cranberry sauce. In an effort not to be wasteful, I’ve found creative uses for the tart and tangy sauce such as spreading it on turkey sandwiches, throwing it into smoothies, and even placing it on top of a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream on occasion.

This year I came up with a new and exciting way to blow through all the leftover cranberry sauce at once with a fabulous cocktail! Though I’m not a big whiskey fan, I found this libation to flow quite smoothly once you get beyond the initial ‘bite’ of the first sip…

I created this cocktail on a cold, windy autumn evening recently. The warmth of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom spices just seem to sink deep into my tired body at the end of a long, cold day and warm it to the bone. As I recall, we sipped this lovely drink while handing out Halloween candy last October 31st!

Fort Funston, located in the southwestern end of San Francisco, is one of Otter’s favorite places to meet up with other dogs and run freely through the sand dunes off-leash. on a given day, thousands of dogs visit to frolic in this decommissioned military defense site on the wind-swept coastal hills in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA).

Once a harbor defense site and Nike Misile launching site during the cold war, the salty air now is slowly reclaiming remnants of abandoned artillery battery stations and old access roads.

Giants Game! I took this photo while attending a San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park during my birthday week. It was an exciting, close game against the Pirates. As you can see from the photo, it was a glorious day in the city. What a perfect way to celebrate my special week! Go Giants!!! 🎈 ⚾️ 🎉

When I leave the house, Otter will go into our bedroom and steal a sock or two out of the laundry hamper to sleep with it until I return. She licks the socks, rolls on them, and plays with them, finally cuddling them underneath her like a little puppy while she completes one of many daily-napping cycles.

This little cocktail emerged during a recent heat wave. After purchasing 20 lbs. of Cara Cara oranges at Costco, I felt compelled to mix up a thirst-quenching, yet hydrating liquid massage for my mind to greet the weekend with a splash.

We visited our local Farmer’s Market yesterday and discovered a huge selection of amazingly sweet, juicy, yellow peaches. This fabulous find led us to the obvious conclusion that there was nothing left to do but celebrate by making some peach & vanilla ice cream crêpes for dessert! I assure you, it just doesn’t get much better than this…

Along with the hot days of summer, we all need an icy cool cocktail now and then to enjoy. This lovely mixture came about by sheer laziness during a recent heat wave. Early in the morning, I had made myself an energizing, freshly squeezed juice in my Breville Juicer (available at our Le Voov! Amazon Store) after hitting a local farmer’s market. Usually, I’m fairly religious about cleaning my juicer right away, because it’s a real pain the rear to scrub if the pulp dries to the inside of the ridiculously sharp grinder blades…

The inspiration for this glorious treat began with picking up a loaf of extra-thick cut cinnamon swirl bread from Trader Joe’s. We love this bread because it makes creating a delicious breakfast quick and easy. And let’s face it, today is a holiday, so lets make it fun while keeping it simple…

I experienced my first Whiskey Smash while visiting my fabulous ‘sista’ *Margi in New Orleans. (Please see my About page for details regarding *The Sisters) Having grown up in ‘wine country’ (Northern California), I was not well acquainted with the various spirits such as Kentucky […]

During a recent construction project at the house, an abandoned heater vent was discovered tucked deep under the lath & plaster. Apparently no one had bothered to inform the dog about this new gaping whole in the wall, and just guess what happened…?

Yep, Otter-Pop’s favorite and most cherished toy, her obnoxious yellow squeaky-ball, found it’s way down into that naughty hole in the wall. Rats! 😬

Our dog Otter-Pop and I enjoy exploring the many open space preserves we have surrounding us in the San Francisco Bay Area. On a gorgeous spring day, we went to bang out a 6-mile run at Pulgas Ridge Preserve in San Carlos, California.

Pulgas Ridge Open Space is a well managed 293-acres preserve that has a variety of trails and an expansive ‘Off-leash’ area for our K-9 pals to mingle and romp together. Some of the trails are quite rigorous, while others are paved fire roads, which make for great accessibility for people of all sizes, ages and abilities. Otter-Pop and I frequent the Dusky-footed Woodrat Trail on a very regular basis. This preserve is closed to bike riding, so you don’t need to fear getting blown off the trail by some yahoo screaming around a blind turn. All of these amenities lead to a peaceful, relaxing experience beneath the quiet, shady trees.

Every year on the first Saturday in May we throw our annual Kentucky Derby Party to celebrate a West Coast version of the Run For The Roses. We honor the many traditional aspects of this southern event, including an extravagant California version of the ladies Parade of Hats that would make the fellas in the San Francisco Castro scream, yip and holler with delight!

In keeping with tradition, we also have frosty mint juleps flowing promptly at 2 PM. However, as you may have suspected, my need to add a personal bit of Le Voov! originality, I put a little twist on the traditional julep….

About

Le Voov! represents my passion for life. I believe clean air, purified water, sunshine, fresh flowers, wine, garlic, music, and laughter with family and friends all nourish the soul. Creating and enjoying delicious, healthy meals with those I love brings me an immense amount of happiness. Good nutrition is at the core of my belief that with a strong foundation of health and wellness, one can achieve anything they desire in life. As my wise sensei always said; "One cannot project what is not collected…"

Restaurant Review

At Le Voov! we celebrate the fresh, wholesome, healthy cuisine made available to us by the many talented chefs in restaurants around the globe. In blending our appreciation for quality food, with our adventurous spirit to explore a variety of cultures through our curious palate, we seek out the spices, flavors and culinary traditions from every corner of this little blue planet.

If you know of an extraordinary restaurant you would like us to review, please access our contact information and share your secret spot. Thank you in advance!

Product Review

At Le Voov! we appreciate the value of efficient, high-quality products for the home. Over the years, friends and family have asked me to make a list of my favorite gadgets, tools, gifts and books for the home and the garden.

Guess Where I Am…? 🌎

Guess Where I Am...?

From time to time, I post a photo of some magical place on the planet we’ve visited recently with the question ‘Guess Where I Am…?’ I provide the location and information pertaining to the photo. If you are so observant and well traveled as to get many of the answers correct, you can be assured you are living the Voovacious Lifestyle!

During a recent construction project at the house, an abandoned heater vent was discovered tucked deep under the lath & plaster. Apparently no one had bothered to inform the dog about this new gaping whole in the wall, and just guess what happened…?

Yep, Otter-Pop’s favorite and most cherished toy, her obnoxious yellow squeaky-ball, found it’s way down into that naughty hole in the wall. Rats! 😬

Le Voov! Movie Guide 🎥

We have always enjoyed an eclectic array of cinematic adventures in our movie choices! When I was in college, I developed a movie rating system involving a cow named ‘Bessie’. Bessie would become bipedal and applaud if she liked the film, sit in her movie chair with her legs crossed if she was bored, or leave a simple, steaming pile of poop if she thought the movie was below her very high, bovine standards. Perhaps in time I will resurrect the image of dear Bessie the cow, but for now, here is a smattering of some truly amazing movies I’ve enjoyed over the years. If you wish to share a voovacious cinematic title or two with us, please feel free to Contact us. Enjoy!

Dear Matilda

Thelma & Louise

Dear Matilda,

One of my best gal pals from college lives across the country. We have remained very close over the years, talking several times a week by phone and Skype. Two months ago, we decided to plan a road trip to Colorado to visit her niece, whom I’m very close with. We’re both really excited to have a bit of quality face-to-face time together while traveling. So, we’ve been enthusiastically planning excursions and adventures into our 6-day journey, including museums, shopping, a girls spa day, hiking a few national parks, fun restaurants to visit with her niece, etc.

Then, about three weeks ago, I was contacted by another friend from college whom I have consciously maintained little interaction with over the years. She informed me that she’d heard about our road trip and invited herself to join us...